Two cabin crew removed from flight carrying Tarique Rahman

Two cabin crew members have been removed from the Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight that will carry BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman to Dhaka.

The withdrawn crew are Junior Purser Md Saugatul Alam Saugat and flight stewardess Jinnia Islam.

A responsible source at Biman Bangladesh Airlines confirmed the decision, saying it was taken in view of security and VIP management considerations ahead of Tarique Rahman’s return from London to Dhaka.

According to airline sources, the move followed intelligence reports citing the two crew members’ alleged political affiliations. The issue recently drew renewed attention after photos of them with several Awami League leaders circulated on social media.

There are also allegations that they had regularly been assigned to flights operated by former lawmaker Sheikh Selim.

Sources said Tarique Rahman is scheduled to depart London’s Heathrow Airport for Dhaka on Wednesday (December 24) aboard Biman flight BG-202. Members of his family, along with several senior BNP leaders, are also expected to be on board.

Airline officials said the intelligence reports also flagged potential security risks involving the VIP passenger. Based on these assessments, the two crew members were removed and replaced with Junior Purser Mostafa and flight stewardess Ayat.

Similar steps have been taken in the past. On May 2, two cabin crew members—Al Kubrun Nahar Kosmic and Md Kamrul Islam Ripon—were withdrawn from a flight carrying BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, also based on intelligence assessments citing VIP security and political considerations.